UPDATE: Taiwan Manufacturing Activity Growth Fastest In Over 4 Years
February 28, 2010

http://elecreview.com/update-taiwan-manufa...er-4-years.html

TAIPEI (Dow Jones)–Taiwan’s manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest rate in more than four years in February, adding to evidence of a robust recovery in the island’s economy.

Economists said the government is likely to shift its focus to inflationary pressures in the economy because of the island’s strong data in recent months, with most expecting a rate hike by the end of the third quarter.

The HSBC Taiwan Purchasing Managers Index rose from 61.7 to 62.5 in January, the biggest expansion since December 2005 and the 12th consecutive month the PMI has been above 50, HSBC Holdings PLC said. A PMI reading above 50.0 indicates the manufacturing sector is expanding, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction.

“Taiwan’s economy has entered a sustained expansion cycle, with rising new orders pointing to further strength ahead,” HSBC senior Asian economist Frederic Neumann said in a statement.

Among the PMI’s key subindexes, new orders rose from 64.2 in January to 67.1 in February, HSBC said. The subindex is an important gauge of Taiwan’s economic health because the island relies heavily on exports of electronics products, including semiconductors, flat panels and personal computers.

The data will add to hopes economic growth in the first quarter will be robust after Taiwan’s gross domestic product expanded 9.22% from a year earlier in the fourth quarter.
But the strong pickup may prompt the central bank to consider tightening measures to slow inflationary pressures as recent numbers suggest input prices are rising at a considerable pace in Taiwan, Neumann said.

The island’s statistics agency said Feb. 22 it expects the consumer price index to rise 1.27% and the wholesale price index to increase 4.78% this year.

The HSBC Taiwan PMI is compiled by U.K.-based research firm Markit Group Ltd. and is sponsored by HSBC. The Taiwan government doesn’t issue an official PMI, but the Council For Economic Planning and Development said in June it hoped to launch a monthly PMI as soon as 2011.

And DevineCarrier says: "Good job President Ma!"

9.22% of GDP grow??? WOW!

Congratulation to Taiwan!!!

台湾加油！加油！加油！

All Taiwan people should know who is good and who is evil! DPP definitely 100% pure EVIL!!!

You're being a bit ridiculous in your hatred of the DPP.

Yes, DPP is the greatest threat and greatest enemy of Chinese people and Chinese civilization. This event should take a note in Chinese history, so one day our children can learn that once upon a time in 21st century there's a Chinese who reject himself as Chinese.

DPP make a statement to the world people that Taiwanese is not Chinese. Definitely a different people. As you can read in most of the newspaper around the world years ago.

They make a bold statement that Japanese is a bestfriend and great teacher of Taiwanese. DPP feel sad for Japanese victims of atomic bomb, but he didn't feel nothing with more than 20 millions Chinese die in Japan invasion. 20 millions Chinese die is the biggest victims in World War 2. More Chinese people die in China than any people in Europe during WW2. Jews genocide is nothing compare with Chinese genocide by Japanese.

DPP also trying to cut Taiwan connection with China and Chinese around the world. They stop helping overseas Chinese student, stop the scholarship. They disrespect Chiang Kaishek tomb. They even try to erase China history from Taiwan school book. They tell every country that they are not Chinese, they are friend and student of Japanese.

There's still a lot of great sins DPP did toward Chinese people around the world and Chinese civilization.

I never seen a Chinese that so hateful to fellow Chinese. As Chinese I'm so proud with mainland China economy and development progress, although they are still poor. As Chinese I always hope Chinese people can united and prosper, bring back the China golden age.

DPP definitely is not Chinese and the greatest enemy of all Chinese.

This is very sad to see Taiwanese people brainwashed by the poisonous DPP propaganda.

In the past I always read Taiwan newspaper, but today, the more I read, the more I anger. So I stop buy it, I also realize that almost all overseas Chinese do the same thing.